by Patrick Eastwood

Maritime harness racing has lost another well respected senior member of our harness fraternity. Blair J. Bernard, 88, died Jan. 6, 2015, at his residence.

Mr. Bernard had been a lifelong member of the automotive industry, selling cars for Lounsbury Ltd. in his native Moncton community. He was equally committed to the sport of harness racing, having campaigned horses for several decades at Brunswick Downs and subsequently Champlain Raceway and New Brunswick Downs until its closing.

Despite the lack of racing opportunities in Moncton he maintained an active interest in the sport through his son Paul-Emile and daughter Gisele and her companion Gordie Hennessey.

Some of the noteworthy equines that he campaigned were Tasty Treat, a winner of the coveted Alexander Memorial and Earle Deware Memorial; Phantom Lobell with whom he won a two-mile endurance test in Saint John in 1972; Standing Room Only; and countless others.

In later years he turned his attention to developing young horses, prepping Overbrooks Sir Jon who held the 3-year-old pacing colt mark in Moncton, as well high speed performers Adroit Lobell and Arbiter Lobell.

Many of the young performers, after learning their initial lessons, were sent to son Armand, a former leading dash winner in Moncton who then campaigned them at his adopted home base in New Jersey.